During and following
World War I, the Presbyterian and Christian churches united to worship
and work together. This federation began on August 31, 1918, and
continued until June 18, 1922. During this time Rev. T. Chas.
Miller and Rev. T. B. Couchman served as pastors. Since then,
there have been eight installed pastors.
During the last half century, five young people have gone into church
related vocations. Two of them, Wilbur Prentice and Gaylord
Couchman became ordained ministers, while Faye Ellis, Louise White and
Lucille Helfenstein taught in Mission schools.
The present church membership is 203 with 136 enrolled in church
school. Te senior choir is under the direction of Mrs. Ivan
Myers. The junior class is directed by Mrs. E. E. Lister, with
Dwight Smith as organist. The women of the church are organized as
United Presbyterian Women and meet regularly for Bible study and
contribute annually to the mission of the church. Present pastor
is Richard Kiefer.
The Methodist Church of Dallas Center was incorporated in 1873.
Prior to that time, it was included in the Waukee circuit.
Services were held in the depot and in the new Presbyterian
church. A chapel was built in 1873 at 15th and Walnut
Streets. A Parsonage was secured in 1876. The chapel served
as as place of worship until 1883 when a new church was erected in the
southeast corner of Mound Park. On April 15, 1951, a new church
was dedicated at 1504 Walnut, its present location. Recently a new
addition has been built to the west of the new church. Following a
recent merger with the Evangelical United Brethren denomination, it has
become the United Methodist Church. Present membership is
447. Present pastor is Lawrence Beals.
The
German Baptist Brethren, (since 1908 named the Church of the Brethren),
built a church house adjoining the Brethren Cemetery location one and
one half miles east of Dallas Center in 1875. The church was
organized in 1876 with 50 charter members. Samuel Strayer donated
land from his farm for church and cemetery purposes. This church
building served the membership and surrounding community well for 35
years until 1910.
A new larger church was built in Dallas Center at the present location,
1207 Ash, east of 13th street. The country church was dismantled
in 1914. Lightning struck the town church in 1955 causing several
thousand dollars damage. As a result, the church was extensively
remodeled and rededicated in 1958.
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